Kav looks long-range with Tipungwuti
Story By Jason Hickson
Wednesday, 16 August 2006:  | | Morphettville trainer Mark Kavanagh |
Tipungwuti has placed at two of his three starts, finishing runner-up to Miss Finland on debut in the Listed Talindert Stakes before drawing off the track and racing wide throughout when 10th in a Blue Diamond Prelude behind Duo Sasso.
After a spell he returned as a short-priced favourite at Cheltenham Park recently and loomed up to win but was narrowly beaten by Staarbird.
Kavanagh has added the blinkers and tongue tie for Saturday’s race, where he will continue to be ridden by Dwayne Dunn.
“He ran well on debut but was very green, then was off the track and pulled up a bit shin-sore so he was spelled,” Kavanagh said.
“I was happy enough with his first-up run because he was very fat and was deep throughout, running out of condition near the line.
“He’s improved since then but he’s loomed up and been beaten twice now hence the gear changes.”
Tipungwuti is by Fusaichi Pegasus from the Brief Truce mare So Gorgeous, who at the same age strung together four stakes wins in Melbourne in the spring of 2000.
The colt was a sale topper at $330,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions sales when purchased by Joe Hall but after failing a vet test he was secured by Kavanagh for $320,000.
Following Saturday’s run he will start in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes at the same track over 1200m in a fortnight, then Kavanagh will choose between the Guineas Prelude (1400m), again at Caulfield, on September 23rd or the Group 2 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley a week later.
His main aim is the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14 before longer three-year-old races such as the Norman Robinson, the AAMI Vase and Victoria Derby.
“After the McNeil we’ll either run in the Prelude or the Stutt Stakes but his immediate goal is the Guineas. After that there’s the Norman Robinson, the AAMI Vase and Derby if he measures up,” Kavanagh said.
“He’s a beautifully balanced colt who won’t be seen at his best until later in the spring and he’ll continue to improve with racing and more ground.”
Meanwhile, Kavanagh has applied for 20 boxes at both Caulfield and Flemington in the hope of setting up a satellite stable in Melbourne in the future.
He said he has a firm commitment to his recently refurbished stables at Morphettville but hopes to be able to use the base in Melbourne to chase higher prizemoney.
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